Notebook



A ril 19, 1938. T. J. SALSMAN NOTEBOOK Filed July 1, 1935 Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE NOTEBOOK poration of Illinois Application July 1, 1935, Serial No. 29,189

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to a note book comprising a pair of covers with intermediate leaves, all hinged together to swing through substantially 360". Such a note book is particularly 5 useful for transcribing purposes because it may be upstood upon a desk with the lower edges of the covers widely separated whereby to expose successively the leaves that are carried by the common hinge connections.

The present improvements concern the provision of means for assisting in sustaining the note book in erected position. As shown it comprises a spring-clip applicable to the cover edges opposite those at which the hinge connections are placed, the clips being fitted with shoes of rubber or other suitable friction material which will promote resistance on the part of the covers to slipping on the desk or other plane surface whereon the note book may be rested.

In the use of a note book of the kind referred to it is desirable that the covers, together with the leaves connected thereto, be adjusted in accordance with the position of the eyes of the user. The angle at which the leaves are presented to view should accordingly be susceptible of adjustment, depending upon the conditions of use. The desk or other plane surface on which such books are usually stood is rather smooth and often slippery, with the consequence that the book tends readily to collapse if the covers diverge at a wide angle. By the improvements of the present invention, this tendency of the covers to slip is effectively checked, and I am enabled to upstand the book at a greater angle of divergence whereby the upper and lower portions of the exposed leaves are presented to the eye at substantially equal distances. This is manifestly the correct way in which the leaves should be supported, but one which is difficult of attainment with books as now constituted, due to the fact (1) that the level of the desk upon which such note book is rested is usually so much below that of the eye that the distance to the lower portion of the exposed leaves is noticeably stand at a wide angle of divergence that the present invention is principally concerned.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved note book as it appears when stood upon 5 a desk or other plane surface;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the book in the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a friction clip applied to the lower edge of one of the book 10 covers;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the clip which is shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal transverse section through the clip on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; and 15 Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of another type of clip to which is applied a friction shoe.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the present note book comprises a pair of relatively heavy covers A and B with intermediate paper 20 leaves L. The covers and leaves, near one edge thereof, are hinged together in such a manner as to permit a swinging movement of 360 or thereabouts. For this purpose I may form, through the covers and leaves, plural sets of 5 registering holes each adapted to receive a split ring R forming a hinge connection for the covers and leaves. In a book so formed the rings are free to revolve through the holes in which they are entered, and the covers and leaves are like- 30 wise free to be turned about the rings through substantially 360. From a normally closed position either cover may be swung around through an arc of 300 or so to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. When so disposed, the leaves may 35 be exposed successively to view on one or the other side of the covers which are then adapted to upstand divergingly, with the hinge edge uppermost, upon a desk or other plane surface. In use, the leaves may accordingly be moved successively so as to expose to View any notes which are inscribed thereon.

According to the present invention, the covers are desirably slightly greater in radial length r than are the leaves. From this it results that when the book is upstood on a desk or table, only the bottom edges of the covers will contact therewith, the leaves being supported at a slightly elevated position, as shown best in Fig. 2. This support, of course, is furnished by the hinge connections in the form of the split rings R. Because of this relationship in size between the covers and leaves, the latter remain out of contact with the desk and so are entirely free to be turned, as desired, with a minimum of effort on the part of the user.

The maximum advantage of a note book of the present kind is realized only when the book stands upright upon a desk with the leaves exposed to view at an angle which is most convenient to the eye. In such a position the upper and lower edges of the leaves should be substantially equidistant from the eye of the user. Ordinarily this would require a rather wide spread of the lower edges of the covers upon the desk in order to produce the angle requisite for this purpose. When so spread, however, particularly upon the polished smooth surface of a desk, the covers are apt to slip and keep on spreading, so that the entire book will collapse down flat upon the desk. Accordingly, there is an angle of repose which is determined in large part by the frictional properties of the covers along their lower edges in engagement with the desk surface.

According to this invention, I employ a frictional supporting means which is entirely separate and distinct from the book, being applicable thereto by the user with little or no effort. Such a friction means may take the form suggested in Figs. 1 to 5, where I have shown a clip C of the O. K. type applied to the lower edge of one of the book covers. Such a clip, which is made of thin sheet metal, is in U form, with opposed legs l5 and Iii, from one of which extends a tang ll adapted to pierce the book covers and enter an embossed opening in the other. A clip of this character, when applied to the book cover, will remain securely in place. It is characterized by an elongated loop at its lower end. According to this invention, I dip the looped end of the clip into a solution of rubber or other frictional material, which, upon hardening, will remain interlocked with the clip loop through and around which it is extended continuously, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5. This rubber or other friction material so interlocked with the looped end of the clip constitutes a shoe S which will extend lengthwise along the loop of the clip without lateral protrusion to an appreciable extent. Accordingly, when such. a clip is applied to the lower edge of a book cover, as shown in Fig. 5, the thickness of the shoe will be very little more than that of the cover itself. This is an advantage, both from the standpoint of (1) protection to the shoe and (2) avoidance of lateral bulk which might interfere with compact packaging.

Any desired number of such shoes may be applied to the lower edges of the book covers. As indicated in Fig. 1, four such clips, each with an associated shoe, may conveniently be used. It will be found that this number will ordinarily suflice to sustain the book in upright position with the covers diverging at a wide angle, but if a greater area of frictional material is required, more such clips may easily be added.

The O. K. type of clip illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 is typical of several well known such devices, any one of which may be employed successfully. As a further example, I have shown in Fig. 6 a wire clip of the Gem type G having at one end a loop around which is molded or otherwise secured a shoe S which extends lengthwise of the end of the clip. Although I have indicated a simple method of applying the shoe, viz., by dipping the looped end of a clip in a solution of rubber or other material, it is obvious that the shoe may be molded around the clip loop, or any other mode of application may be employed which is found suitable.

I claim:

1. In a note book having covers with intermediate leaves all hinged to turn through substantially 360, spring clips removably attached to the cover edges remote from the hinge connections thereof, and friction means anchored to and interlocked with the clips in a manner to lie beyond the lower edges of the covers and adapted to engage with a horizontal surface upon which the book may be stood, the friction material being confined substantially between the planes defined by opposite faces of the book covers.

2. A note book having covers with intermediate leaves hinged to turn through substantially 360, a clip removably attached to and interlocked with the cover edges remote from the hinge connection, and friction means independent of the clips carried by and interlocked therewith and disposed wholly beyond the cover edges in a manner to engage with a horizontal surface upon which the book may be stood.

3. For use with a book having covers with intermediate leaves, a clip removably attached to and interlocked with one edge of the cover, and iriction material independentof the clips anchored to and interlocked therewith in a manner to remain positioned beyond the book cover edge to which the clip is attached.

THOMAS J. SALSMAN. 

